Category Archives: Packaging Film

The global speciality paper market is estimated to be valued at nearly US$ 31 Bn in 2017 and is projected to reach approximately US$ 54 Bn by the end of 2027. Based on end-users, packaging & labelling industry is expected to remain dominant.

“Sales of specialty paper will reach nearly 25000 thousand tons in 2017, and this number is further estimated to exceed 40,000 thousand tons by 2027-end, according to a report by Future Market Insights (FMI).

FMI’s report projects the global specialty paper market to register a steady 5.2% volume CAGR during the forecast period 2017 to 2027. The market is estimated to exhibit an absolute $ opportunity of US$ 21.59 billion during the forecast period.”

Making Paper out of Wheat Straw – the first modern paper mill is officially under construction in the sate of Washington to make this happen.

“On September 27 FeedStock (Chicago, Ill., USA) reported that for the past 15 years, environmental not-for-profit Canopy (Vancouver, Canada) has been advocating making paper from commercial agricultural residue a reality. Columbia Pulp, the first modern mill of its kind, is now slated to make pulp for paper and packaging out of wheat straw; it is now officially under construction in the state of Washington.

By securing the support of large consumer corporations and creating focused demand, Canopy claims it has helped position straw papers and packaging as a strong alternative to products made with virgin tree fiber. Through Canopy’s Second Harvest initiative, corporations such as Staples, EarthColor and more than 100 fashion brands have expressed clear interest in buying agricultural residue paper, packaging and/or textiles as they become available.”

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we are more than your typical paper mill or distributor. Our capabilities and experience allow us to work with you design an innovative solution to meet your needs. Working within the framework of a 3 step process, our goal is to make sure your problem is solved.

An example of how this process can work is when we recently worked with a medical facility that was having an issue with keeping their operating room totally free of contamination. After first communicating with them, we learned the problem they were having is when they used a portable overhead lamp to provide light to the area of the body they were working on, sometimes germs or bacteria would bounce off the light lens and into the open area of the body. This could cause infection and was a serious health risk for patients under their care.

After learning what the issue was, we discussed possible solutions with them and came to the realization that a piece of film that you place over the light lens that is sterile and clean could solve their issue. The next step was the sourcing process to determine what material would work best. Once the material type was determined, then figuring out the best size, thickness, and adhesive type. This process involves trying out different options to make sure the best one is found. After a few iterations of trial-and error we were able to find the correct product that would cover the light lens without affecting the amount of light shining through, and would not allow germs to bounce off of it. This was a big benefit for the medical facility as they were able to solve their contamination problem with this lamp lens film.

As part of our full service offerings we also were able to offer this medical facility the option to hold this film inventory for them with our inventory program. This option allows 30, 60, 90 or even 120 days to hold inventory of this new product. With delivery times of 1-3 days, you can easily plan and schedule your ongoing needs.

For more information on how our custom innovation capabilities can meet your needs, please reach out to us.

When it comes to the baking industry, there is a long history of different films being used for packaging going back years. Waxed paper was the initial wrapping material of choice for many decades with paraffin wax serving as the exclusive coating material for bleached paper stock of suitable weight. As the years went by other types of films were introduced to the baking industry including cellulose film and plastic polyolefin films. Below we explore some of the films being used in the baking industry today, and the characteristics that make them popular choices.

Cellulose (Cellophane): Plain cellulose is a glossy transparent film that is odorless and tasteless as well as biodegradable. Easy to tear, it also is tough and puncture resistant which is important for the baking industry. The folding properties of cellophane make it suitable for twist-wrapping, but it is not heat sealable. Ideally it is used for foods that do not require a complete moisture or gas barrier like fresh bread and some types of sugary sweets.

Polyethylene: Commonly less expensive than most films, low-density polyethylene is heat sealable, odor free and a material that shrinks when heated. While it is a good moisture barrier, it is a poor odor barrier since it is relatively permeable to oxygen. Generally it is used for bags, coating papers and as a component in laminates. High-density polyethylene is stronger, thicker and less flexible than low-density polyethylene and is often used for bread bags and bulk bun wrappers.

Polypropylene: Used widely to pack baked foods, biscuits, snack foods and dried foods, polypropylene is a clear glossy film with good puncture resistance and a high strength. It stretches and has a moderate barrier to moisture, gases and odors, while not being affected by changes in humidity. In Europe it is used to wrap baguettes and rolls.

Coextruded films: A common choice for baked foods, confectioneries and cereals, coextrusion is the simultaneous extrusion of two or more layers of different polymers to make a single film. Compared to other types of film these have very high barrier properties, and are thinner than laminates and therefore easier to use on filling equipment. A coextrusion typically has 3 layers including an outside layer with high gloss and printability, a middle bulk layer, and an inner layer for heat sealing.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we are experienced with working with the baking industry to find the best films that will meet your needs. Working with well over 100 variations of films and siliconized release films, we are an experienced release liner source that understands the requirements of our customers. Contact us for more information.